PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Pre-school Education: Disability (23 February 2015)

The Department for Education’s Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents [1] collects information on the proportion of families using formal childcare who receive financial support from an employer. However, this information is only available at national level. I have asked Ofsted to respond using the data they hold on registered nursery places. Sir Michael Wilshaw, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, will write to the hon. Member, and a copy of his response will be placed in the House library. Some providers such as schools with nursery provision for children aged three or over are exempt from registration. The number of places therefore may not include the full range of early years provision available in the area.

The Department’s Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey [2] collects data on all registered childcare places, including those in maintained schools and nurseries. These figures are therefore more comprehensive than the Ofsted figures; however data is only available at a national and regional level.

The Department does not hold information on the number of eligible two year olds with a disability. However, all two year olds in receipt of Disability Living Allowance or with a statement or education health and care plan will be eligible. The number of two year olds taking up funded early education at January 2015 with a high level of special educational need or a disability will be published as part of the provision for children under five years of age statistical publication on 25 June 2015.

[1] www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-survey-of-parents-2012-to-2013

[2] www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-providers-survey-2013